Manufacture of potassium



Patented I Aug 1 1, 1931 PATENT OFFICE .UNITED STATES WERNER BUSGH, 0]!COLOGNE-DMZ; AND BEIGE NOAGK, OI WIESDORIF, GEBJTAITY,

ASSIGNOBS TO I. G. FABBEHIHIDUSTBIE AKTIENGESELLSGHAFT, OF FRANKFOBT-ON-TBE-MAIN, GERMANY, A CORPORATION OF GERMANY KAHUFAGTURE 0F POTASSIUIHo Drawing. -Application filed July 21, 1928, Serial No. 294,576, and inGermany August 5, 1927.

This invention relates to the manufacture dried potassium fluoride withmagnesium to of potassium. 7

The process of manufacture in accordance with this invention is byheating potassium fluoride with metallic magnesium in' the absence ofwater. This process offers quite considerable technical advantages sincethe reaction commences at a temperature above about 500 C. and iscomplete at a low red heat, taking place smoothly and with a good yield.Advantageously the process is car-- ried out in an mert atmosphere orbetter still under reduced pressure. Iron is an example of a suitablematerial for the reaction. vessels. The potassium obtained in thismanner is very pure. The residue from the reaction can be worked up inthe known set our hands.

about 500700 C.-under about 11 mm. pres sure and collecting thepotassium distilling over in a receiver charged with a suitableliquid'inert towards potassium.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto WERNER BUSCH. [L. s.] ERICHNOACK.-. [L.S.]

manner to give pure magnesium fluoride or hydrofluoric acid andmagnesium salts.

The following. eiiample illustrates the invention without limiting itthereto A mixture of 90 grams of thoroughly dessicatedpotassium fluorideand 18 grams of magnesium gritis heated to about 500-- 700 C.-in an ironretort under about 11 mm.

'pressure. When a temperature of ,54.0 C.

is reached, the potassium distils' over and is collected in the form of:balls in a receiver charged with a suitable liquid inert towardspotassium, such as petroleum, paraflin oil e. a. The yield of potassiumamounts to 48 grams, it, contains only barely detectable traces ofmagnesium.

- Weclaim: l

1. In the process of manufacturing potassium the step whichcomprisesheating po tassium fluoride with metallic magnesium to a temperatureabove about 500 C. in the absence of water and under reduced pres- 2. Aprocess of manufacturing potassium which process comprises heatingthoroughly

